What is Christ doing in this ERA of God’s Church and why is it important that we know?

Introduction to the Works of Christ in His Church

To help us understand let’s review what Mr. Armstrong discovered and taught us about the work that Christ was doing in the Philadelphian ERA. Always the church has had the commission to go to the world with the Gospel teaching and making disciples of all who could hear.

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

This has always been the work of the church. It is called the Great Commission and has been performed by every ERA of God’s Church throughout its history.

So what was different about Philadelphia?

First, it was determined that God had sent Mr. Armstrong in the spirit and power of Elijah to bring back to the church, foundational doctrines and the understanding of key data that unlocked our understanding of Prophecy.

Having received this deluge of Spiritual Knowledge, Christ stepped into the picture directly for the first time recorded in the Bible. This is not to say that Christ has not worked with His church before He surely has but here is recorded that Christ is personally doing something in a specific ERA of His church. In Rev 3:7 Christ begins to speak to the angel of the church(the called out ones) in Philadelphia.

Rev 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;Rev 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.Rev 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.Rev 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.Rev 3:13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Notice verse 8 Christ Himself opened a door for the called out ones in Philadelphia. It was determined that this tied into the prophetic “Witness Work” of Matthew 24:14;

Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

In fact, Mr. Armstrong often talked about how God had called such a large number of people to the body of Christ during this ERA so that they would have the resources to do the Witness Work of taking the Gospel to the World as a witness and to the Leaders as well.

This was the first time that Christ had done something directly relating to a specific ERA of the Called Out ones throughout the history of the Church. Each ERA of the Called out ones of God had works, He says that He knows the works of each of the ERAs. But in Philadelphia, He actually steps in to help them accomplish a huge mission.

We are of course all intimately familiar with all of this as most of us came out of the Philadelphian ERA. So Is Christ doing something similar again during Laodicea? Well, let’s look at what He says.

Rev 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;Rev 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.Rev 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Notice verse 20. Just as He shows us in verse 8 what He did during Philadelphia, in verse 20 He does the same. He says that He is standing at the door knocking and that if any man hears Him and opens the door to Him He will come in a eat with him. Feed Him if you will.

Notice some peculiar differences here:

In Philadelphia:

He opened a door to mass media for the entire church group to walk through. Here was a group effort to do a work that Christ had made possible.

He made it by first sending the Elijah as He had promised to give to the church the full Gospel Message and the full foundational doctrines and Prophecies that were needed for them to get ready for Christ.

He called far more people in this ERA than in any other ERA before so that there would indeed be enough resources for Mr. Armstrong to accomplish the prophetic mission that he had been given to do.

While in Laodicea:

He appears outside of the Body of Christ outside of each of us as individuals.

He knocks trying to get the attention of a sleepy and lackadaisical ERA of God’s people.

Notice this Scripture in Song of Solomon as it is very illuminating;

(Song of Sol 5:1) I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.(Song of Sol 5:2) I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.(Song of Sol 5:3) I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?(Song of Sol 5:4) My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him.(Song of Sol 5:5) I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock.(Song of Sol 5:6) I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.(Song of Sol 5:7) The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.

These verses actually describe what Christ is doing in Laodicea. Notice how He refers to the virgin as His Wife and as His Sister? The church is obviously the bride of Christ and the word refers to Him also as our elder brother. Notice how the virgin is asleep and how she makes excuses for not getting up and by the time she does He is gone. This relates to the Matthew 25 prophecy of the ten virgins. Only a few of us are going to wake up in time and hear Christ Knocking.

Now notice that if we open the door in time He will come in and sup with us. Would that not mean that He would be actively feeding us? Do you remember how Mr. Armstrong used to say that Christ would feed us during the 3 1/2 years that we would be in a place of safety? Remember how we heard explained about the blessing of being one of those who waited and came to the 1335? Those who come to the 1335 are blessed because they have been counted worthy of escaping what is coming on this earth.

Notice that scripture again in Daniel 12:12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days

Consider a couple of things related to this. It seems to me that Christ’s mission to Laodicea is almost like a “safety net”. It seems as if having prepared the church and warning the world in Philadelphia He is now attempting to Keep as many of His people as possible from having to go through the Great Tribulation. Do you see how this fits in with John 15:1-2?

Joh 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.Joh 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

God the Father is busy working with each of us to get us to produce fruit so that He does not have to take us away. Christ is trying to get our attention to show us what is wrong so that we can be accounted worthy to escape. Because once the Father decides who is going and who will be left behind so to speak then the 1335 begins as we were shown earlier this week.

Notice that He tells us to Repent and be Zealous;

Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Our people are so full of the knowledge of Christ that they have stopped truly looking at themselves and have become blind and naked and miserable. Because of that, they think that they have no need of anything more. Having taken that stance they have begun to fall away from the conversion and the love that they had in the beginning. That is why Christ felt a need to wake them up from their self-imposed slumber.

Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Our people are so satisfied with themselves because they are indeed looking at the wrong things. They are looking to a human leader or to the physical works of an organization for proof that they are “safe”. They did that in Mr. Armstrong’s time as well. They have been comparing themselves to themselves rather than to Christ. As a result, they have become: ” wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: ” what a terrible condition and because of that God is going to Spew them out of His mouth into the Great Tribulation as a last ditch effort to save as many as possible.

But for those of us who HEAR HIM KNOCKING, we can be blessed by turning back to Him soon enough to be counted worthy to escape.

EYE SALVE

Notice what Christ instructs His people to do:

Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Buying Gold tried in the fire might definitely be part of having to go into the great tribulation some will have enough of God’s Spirit to take hold and make it through successfully even though it means their physical lives but he also counsels them to get eye salve that they may see. this is what we see as our goal. In order to make his people aware and perhaps more sensitive to His knock we are attempting to gather as much Eye Salve as we can gather to help them see where they are in prophecy, what’s wrong with what is happening in the various groupings of the body of Christ and in the corporate organizations that control so much of them.

So let’s go through some of the eye-salve that we have discovered, to help you see what may be wrong with so many that God figures that the only chance they have to make it into His Kingdom as a First Fruit is to go through the Great Tribulation.

THE WITNESS WORK OF MATTHEW 24:14 IS OVER

Many of us, alive today, were born during the Philadelphian stage of the Church and we have always viewed “the work” as being the works assigned to the Philadelphia stage of God’s Church. We were taught, and rightly so, that the work was Matt. 24;14 “And this gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come”. That work was so important to God that He raised up an apostle to accomplish the job. Jesus Christ then opened the doors for that apostle to do that job. Christ called a large number of people to back up and support the apostle in doing that job. Christ opens all of the doors needed to get that message, as a warning, to all Israel by the printed press, radio and television and personal evangelism. Then, Christ opened the doors for that apostle to take that same message and warning personally to the gentile leaders of nations. With that, the gospel warning went out to the world. Jesus Christ prophesied that would be done and He, Christ accomplished that job. The job was done and Christ allowed His apostle to die and the Philadelphia era ended!

Does that mean that all of the people of that era ceased to exist? Of course not. But, the Philadelphian work was ended. Now, it was the responsibility of the individual Christian of that Philadelphian mindset, to hold on to all of the truth that was restored during that era, to practice it and build the character of God for them to be made ready to enter that kingdom when Christ returns and sets it up right here on the earth. And, as many as may be called that will believe all of that restored truth and live by it and have that same mindset, can also be “Philadelphian” Christians. But, they will exist in the Laodicean era (period of time).

With the work of the Philadelphian era completed, the Church now entered into the work phase of the Laodicean era. Similar to the Thyatira era, which had first works and last works (Rev. 2:19), the Laodicean era had their works which they did but it was not the work that Christ was doing. They were doing their own works. In Rev. 3:15, Christ told them “I know ‘THY’ works, and those works were neither cold or hot.” That was because they were not doing the works that Christ wanted to be done. The leaders, mostly ministers coming over from the previous era, for the most part, thought that Christ had only partly accomplished the job that He had given to His apostle to do. They felt that it was now their responsibility to complete the work that Christ’s apostle, Herbert W. Armstrong, failed to finish, even though Mr. Armstrong himself stated publicly that he had finished the work that God had given him to do and that there was not going to be an “Elisha” following his Elijah work:

“And brethren, I have to say to you, no one is going to succeed me. God has called me to do a job, to do a commission. I think when God lets me die, the thing that He has called me for will have been completed, preparing the way for the second coming of Christ, carrying the gospel of the Kingdom of God to the world for a witness to all nations. And, if I have been someone in the power and spirit of Elijah, remember, there is no prophecy that God will have an Elisha following Elijah. But the job God has called me to do IS a prophesied job.”

Herbert W. ArmstrongWorldwide NewsMarch 6, 1981

The ministers of these corporate Church groups are doing a work that Jesus Christ called neither cold or hot. It is not cold because it is not wrong to preach the second coming of Jesus Christ to establish the Kingdom of God on the earth. But, it was not hot because they were trying to continue a work that has been completed, that of preaching the gospel to all the world for a witness unto all nations Mat. 24:14. That has been done. Jesus Christ opened the doors to the Philadelphia era for His apostle, he carried that gospel to all nations for a warning. Once that work was done, Christ let the apostle die. He closed that door, that era ended and a new era began, the seventh era called Laodicea. He had no further use for that Church organization called the Worldwide Church of God, so He allowed the apostates to take over there and those who possessed the spirit of God and were led by that spirit had to leave or compromise the truth and lose the Holy spirit. The leaders left the corporate Worldwide Church of God and formed their own groups doing their version of the work that was done in the previous era. They are doing the wrong work! That is why Christ said they are not”hot”.

So, just what is the work of God today? Let’s let Jesus Christ Himself answer that question. “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore and repent. Behold I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him, and he with Me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.” Rev 3:19 – 21. There you have it, that is the work that Christ is doing right now. That is the work of God for this time.

WE ARE TRULY IN THE LAODICEAN ERA

If so what about what Mr. Armstrong said? That the Laodicean Era would not begin until the Philadelphian Church was taken to a place of safety.

Many sincerely believe that because Mr. Armstrong was an Apostle and because he was sent as the Elijah to come to restore all things, that everything that he said was correct and that we are, as people who are in a Philadelphian mindset, required to hold fast to those statements. And I agree! Mr. Armstrong was indeed an Apostle and the Elijah and he did restore all things (doctrinal truths) to God’s church during the Philadelphian Era of that church. Consider the following scriptures:

(Tit 1:9) Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers

(Act 5:29) Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

Mr. Armstrong always told us not to follow him but to read it for ourselves in the pages of the bible and then follow him if what he said agreed with the word of God. We have all heard that many many times.

We have also heard him say frequently that he was NOT a PROPHET. Meaning the things he said that were prophetic in nature were not to be taken as PROPHETIC statements from God Almighty. Can we agree so far? Let’s look at the word of God for some more clarity on this issue. What does God say on this issue;

1Co 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

1Co 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

1Co 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Brethren there are no scriptures in the bible that tell us WHEN the Laodicean church will begin. Mr. Armstrong did not see the Apostasy that happened after his death, he did not see the scattering of the people of God nor the testing that they have all had to undergo. It was a logical progression of thought that the Philadelphian era whom God had promised to protect would be taken to that place of safety and then the Laodicean Era would begin.

It did not occur to him that just as he told us so many times, there were people in Philadelphia who had that Laodicean mindset, just so there would be people in Laodicea with that Philadelphian mindset still ingrained in them and holding fast to what they had been given.

He was seeing through a “glass darkly” but now we are “face to face” with the realities.

Christ’s work in Philadelphia was to open a door for the church to walk through. Which Mr. Armstrong did. He saw his calling as the Elijah. He understood his mission to take the Gospel of the Kingdom to the world as a witness. And he did in a magnificent way because of the doors which Christ had opened for him.

Mr. Armstrong’s work and the work of the Philadelphian Era of the church of God were intricately tied together. He was an Apostle sent from God for this mission, he was the promised Elijah to restore all things and to prepare a people for Christ, which is what restoring all those doctrines did.

But he said himself, that he had finished the work that God had given him to do. He said himself that there was to be no one else following him to do that work. No Elisha to follow Elijah in the work. Yet people ignore that completely. The Philadelphian ERA was identified in the word as the era of God’s church that walked through those doors that Christ opened. Those doors were opened for one man, the founder and leader of the Philadelphian Church of God, Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong. When he died, when he stated that he had finished the work that God had given him to do, when he said that no one else was going to follow him and do or continue that work, the Philadelphia era ceased to exist as the active era of God’s church.

In all cases, the only way that we have been able to determine what era of God’s church was active at any given time in history was to observe via the historical data left for us, what the churches were doing and how that compared to how Revelation 2 and 3 described them.

A PHILADELPHIA ATTITUDE CAN BE DANGEROUS

If you think that you have a Philadelphian attitude or mindset even in the midst of the Laodicean ERA of the church does that guarantee your safety?

It depends on what you consider a Philadelphian attitude to be.

For instance, do you feel that because of all the doctrines that we were given in Philadelphia that you do not need any more instruction?

Do you feel that because you understand and keep God’s Sabbaths and Holy Days that you are walking in the way?

How about the 10 Commandments? Are you keeping them? REALLY?

Are you growing in grace and the knowledge of Christ? Or are you in a static holding pattern waiting for Christ to return?

Do you remember what Christ said about His servants?

Luk 17:9 Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.Luk 17:10 So likewise you, when you shall have done all the things commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants, for we have done what we ought to do.

To many of us feel safe for all the wrong reasons. We think because we came out of Philadelphia or because we think we have a Philadelphian mindset that we are safe. Brethren we are only safe if we have a true relationship with God the Father. We need to be overcoming our sins we need to be comparing ourselves with Christ, not with our brethren.

The true Philadelphian is not just about brotherly love it was all about the Kingdom of God and being an integral part of that Kingdom. The Philadelphian was always looking toward the Kingdom to come not the world that is. We weren’t looking at buildings or leaders we were looking for Christ to come and set up His kingdom on earth. The Watch Work was a basic part of being a Philadelphian. It is what Christ and the Father are looking for in those that are chosen to be protected.

THE WATCH WORK IS THE EMPHASIS ON LAODICEA

Mat 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.Mat 24:43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.Mat 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.Mat 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?Mat 24:46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

These scriptures are given to the last ERA of God’s church before Christ returns. We are to be watching world events as the time draws close as well as watching ourselves to make sure that we remain on track. But most of our churches seem to want to focus our attention on the Resurrection on watching for Christ to return to the earth to set up His Kingdom. But I ask you to consider the scriptures just prior to these.

Mat 24:40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.Mat 24:41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Notice that these two scriptures are inset into the chapter and are not a part of the scenario just before Christ returns. And yet Matthew 24:42 says that we are to watch because of the one taken and one left behind scenario. Notice it described more completely in Luke.

Luk 17:29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.Luk 17:30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.Luk 17:31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.Luk 17:32 Remember Lot’s wife.Luk 17:33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.Luk 17:34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.Luk 17:35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.Luk 17:36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.Luk 17:37 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

We are to be watching for that day when Christ will gather His people that have been counted worthy to a place of safety. Have you considered that the only true Christians alive at the resurrection may well be those in the place of safety and we will have been counting down the days since the 1335 started at the time of the gathering of God’s people? The Seventh Trump is not going to catch the people of God by surprise but the 1335 might if we are not ready and already responding to the knock of Christ.

WHY IS THERE AN URGENCY CONNECTED WITH THE WATCH WORK

Have you ever noticed that there seems to be an urgency to the end time watch work?

Luk 12:35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;

Notice that having your loins girded about is being prepared to run and to do so immediately the outer robe is pulled up and stuck in the sash so that you are free to move.

Luk 12:36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.

Notice that you must be ready to open the door immediately. Remember the sleepy virgin in Song of Solomon Chapter 5? She missed out on her chance because she did not open immediately.

Luk 12:37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

Do you see how this parallels the Knock message of Rev 3:20? He knocks and they open immediately, they don’t stay asleep, they don’t make excuses for not getting up. And when they do He comes and sits down to meat with them and feeds them just as we discussed earlier. they are blessed just like Daniel 12:12 said that those who come to the 1335 would be. They are taken to the place of safety and fed by Christ for 3 1/2 years till Christ returns at the resurrection.

Luk 12:38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.Luk 12:39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.Luk 12:40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

Again we will know when Christ comes at the resurrection because we will already be in a direct countdown from the 1335. It is the 1335 that we have to be watching for and getting ready for.

WHERE IS THE GOVERNMENT OF GOD TODAY

What about today in the Church of the Laodiceans, as the bible describes the church landscape of today(Rev. 3:14). Multiple Church Groups none of them apparently agreeing with the other enough to come together.

Where exactly is the Government of God in this confused matrix of Church Groups each clamoring for the attention of the scattered body of Christ?

Some ministers will say that if you are not under the “authority” of an ordained minister then you are outside of the body of Christ or at least you are in great danger of coming to that condition.

It is clear from many verses of scripture that the Body of Christ in this ERA has been scattered. Many of the ministers themselves have been put out of the organizations where they started after leaving the WCG. Or they left for their own reasons to start their own organization.

So if you find yourself in disagreement with one of these Church Group / Organizations and have to leave does that make you at odds with God and Christ?

Just where is the Government of God in today’s Church ERA? Many say that if we do not place ourselves under the authority(rulership) of an Ordained minister we are denying Christ. I find that accusation repugnant myself. Nor do I think it is accurate.

Obviously, God thinks that there are times and situations where we should be taken from the ministry, where He will take us away Himself.

Eze 34:7 Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;

Eze 34:8 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;

Eze 34:9 Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;

Eze 34:10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.

So again I ask where is the Government of God. Brethren Christ is still in charge and His laws still govern this Body of Believers no matter where we find ourselves.

In this Laodicean Landscape, Christ is our Apostle and leader, our High Priest and His laws are what govern our actions not the ruling dictates of a man-made government trying and failing to mimic the Kingdom of God on earth.

Having said all that I do believe that God’s Government is hierarchical in nature. But from the way I see it abused today, I cannot find God’s Government in a single place. Rather I see Christ reacting with each of us as individuals.

Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

I just do not see the physical Government of God in operation without a real Apostle at the helm. Nor do I see it allowed with all of the division rampant in the Church Groups.

God is working with each of us as individuals in this ERA of the Church we are working out our own salvation and he is right there knocking on our doors to help.

I am not saying that we should not gather together under the leadership of a good sound minister. But if the circumstances do not allow for that then I do not feel that we are cutting ourselves off from God and Christ by doing things on our own.

While I am not affiliated with any particular church group, for the sake of the work that I am trying to accomplish, I still call on ministers whom I trust and have faith in for counsel and direction. It is just that the work I feel I am called to do REQUIRES that I am not affiliated with any group.

WHY IS ZEAL SO IMPORTANT

Christ says that the church of the Laodiceans is lacking in ZEAL. Rev 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. Have you ever stopped to think WHY God finds Zeal so important?

Look at what Solomon said: (Ecc 9:10) Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

In the summarized bible it explains this passage like this: “While there is life there is opportunity of preparing for death, and since death is certain, it is our wisdom to make the best possible use of life while it lasts, cheerfully taking our share of life’s enjoyments, applying ourselves diligently to this world’s business, and being governed by divine wisdom in all its affairs.” Now that is written to anyone and concerns our physical life only.

Have you ever seen someone who has a zest for life? They are full of energy enjoying each day and getting the most out of what life has to offer. You can readily see that they appreciate what they have been given and wish to enjoy it to the fullest.

But what about the Promise of Eternal life that we have been given? Do we seek after it with all our might? Do we have a Zest for that Promise of God, do we truly APPRECIATE the calling that we have been given? Or are we like Esau who was so disinterested in his birthright that he was willing to sell it for a bowl of porridge. God shows us His feelings about that: Heb 12:16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. God considers a person like Esau as “profane” that is to say ungodly and heathenish when you look at the Greek words.

He tells us to walk WORTHY of our calling: Eph 4:1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to live in a way that is worthy of the calling to which you have been called, ISV

So one aspect of being zealous shows God that we respect and appreciate that calling that we have been given to be part of the Firstfruit harvest of God. But there is another part of being zealous that speaks to our ability to overcome. He says that our struggle is a spiritual battle against the forces of darkness: Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the devil’s strategies.
Eph 6:12 For our struggle is not against human opponents, but against rulers, authorities, cosmic powers in the darkness around us, and evil spiritual forces in the heavenly realm.

There is a constant struggle going on to reach our hearts and minds and turn us away from God. Paul goes on to show us the tools that we have been given to fight those battles; Eph 6:13 For this reason, take up the whole armor of God so that you may be able to take a stand whenever evil comes. And when you have done everything you could, you will be able to stand firm.

Eph 6:14 Stand firm, therefore, having fastened the belt of truth around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,Eph 6:15 and being firm-footed in the gospel of peace.Eph 6:16 In addition to having clothed yourselves with these things, having taken up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to put out all the flaming arrows of the evil one,Eph 6:17 also take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Most of us are familiar with these spiritual instruments of warfare. Yet as I mentioned in an earlier post, ZEAL is also part of those tools to make you successful in your battle with satan and his minions. Isa 59:17 For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke. Think about why ZEAL would be an important tool when you go into battle?

Any soldier going into battle must be pumped up and full of zeal. I mean think about it, how effective would a soldier be in he had a lukewarm attitude toward the battle that was going on around him. How long do you think he would last? Likely he would be the first casualty of the battle. A soldier must be at peak efficiency when in a firefight, he must do like Solomon suggested, doing everything with all his might.

The Church of the Laodiceans is losing the battle for their hearts and minds to satan because they simply do not have the zeal they need to win the contest. We really need to each of us look at ourselves and see if our level of zeal matches the Calling that God has given us. We need to pray for that Zeal because Christ says that there are two things he wants the Laodicean church to do and that is to become Zealous again and to repent of the lukewarm uncaring attitude that they have had toward that Calling that was given to them.

What about you brethren are you really ready to go into a firefight with satan today?

There are of course many other concepts that might be considered eye salve. but I think what has been shown today gives you an idea of what Christ is doing, why He is doing it and what that means to us personally.

May God help us all to be prepared not just for the coming of Christ at the resurrection but also for that day when He will gather those the Father has deemed worthy, to escape what is coming.